Rally against taxation on October 31

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Oct. 22: Amidst public outcry over ‘illegal and multiple taxations’ in the state’s commercial hub, the public action committee (PAC) of the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), conducted a meeting with 19 tribe hohos in Dimapur on Monday. During the meeting, the organisations resolved to organise a public rally on Oct. 31 at Super Market area in Dimapur. All the 19 tribal bodies, including Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), GB Union, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Business Association of Nagas (BAN), Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD), Dimapur Baptist Women Union, representatives of student bodies in Dimapur attended the meeting. “All the important organisations (sic) have come and expressed their grievances against multiple taxations, lease syndicate system, and illegal collection by different organisations during the meeting. Hence, we have decided to conduct a public rally on Oct. 31 at Super Market in Dimapur,” the PAC convenor, Vekhosayi Nyekha informed Eastern Mirror over the phone. Dimapur police has given permission to hold the rally, he said. Nyekha maintained that the civil organisations are against the practice of lease system implemented by Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC). This, he said, has resulted in 700% hike in tax ‘which is unacceptable.’ “Even if they want to increase, increase in five percent to ten percent is understandable, but the present hike in tax cannot be accepted, so we are pressing the government to be reasonable,” Nyekha said. He informed that the PAC has convened a meeting with the DUCCF, GBs Union, NWHD, and Naga Council on Oct. 26, at the Naga Council office in Dimapur to discuss about the rally.